Pinoy runners, volunteer nurses safe in Boston

WASHINGTON — Philippine embassy spokesman Elmer Cato said there were no reports of Filipino casualties from the Boston Marathon bombings. 

The Boston Marathon website listed 10 Filipinos registered for the event.  They were identified as Arnie Aguila, 36; Amanda Carpo, 38; Leila Carpo, 44; and Noel Colina, 53, all from California; Richelle Embree, 37, Massachusetts; Arland Macasieb, 37, New Jersey; Ricardo Mansueta, 32, Ontario; Rolan Ocampo, 53, New York; Jose Martin Paiso, 50, Virginia; and Angielyn San Juan, 25, Illinois.

Cato said Consul General Mario de Leon relayed to
him that he was able to talk to Macasieb who told him that he and six other Filipino runners were able to finish the race at least two hours before the explosion.

Macasieb added that two other Filipinos were not far behind them and could have finished the race about an hour before the incident.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed no reports of Filipinos among the casualties in the bombings.

“According to initial report of our consulate general in New York, so far no reported Filipino casualties in the Boston bombings,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

“The 10 Filipinos who participated in the marathon are also considered safe,” he said.

Hernandez said the Philippine Consulate General in New York continues to closely monitor the situation in coordination with US authorities and Filipino-American community and organization leaders.

Hernandez said some of the Filipino participants in the marathon are migrants while others are green-card holders.

“We advise our kababayans to be vigilant and avoid congregating in large crowds,” Hernandez said.

He said there are 18,700 Filipinos in Boston and nearby areas.

The DFA also extended condolences to the families of the three individuals who died in the bombing incident.

Consul General Mario de Leon said the Consulate General has not received any report of any Filipino casualties based on initial information from authorities and leaders of the Filipino-American community.

“The Philippine Consulate General in New York responded immediately after the explosions and contacted authorities, hospitals and our kababayans in Boston to determine if there were Filipinos among the fatalities and the close to 100 who were reported injured,” the Consul General said.

Meanwhile, Cristina DC Pastor, editor of The FilAm, an Internet magazine for Filipino-Americans in New York, said one of the Filipinos who participated in the race was Susan Marie Sobrepeña whose asthma condition possibly saved her life.

Sobrepeña posted on her Facebook wall: “Just got back to my hotel room. Was close to the finish when I heard the two explosions and got stopped moving forward by the police. I feel quite lucky and blessed that my asthma held me back today from my usual faster pace. Thank you to all for your concern and thoughts. I am keeping those hurt in the explosion in my prayers.”

Sobrepeña, who comes from Bacolod and Lanao del Norte, is a New York resident and works as a movie producer. She was not listed among the Filipino participants in the race possibly because she registered as an American, Pastor said.  – With Ding Cervantes, Helen Flores